Of Wedges and Clamps

  

 

Which of the two?

Is the question I pose:

Am I a wedge or am I a clamp?

The individual knows.

 

Carpenter Frank

Would have the answer,

For him in his line of work

It’s a daily matter.

 

Or cobbler Candid,

He would know it too

Depending on what he decides

To do with a shoe.

 

 

 

A clamp holds tightly

And is a necessary tool,

Of course, it can be misused or abused

By a regular fool.

 

 

 

Wedges do the opposite

Forcing things apart

But both are very distinguishable

From the start.

 

Now that we know

The difference between them

I will now attempt to identify

A problem.

 

In any organization

There are both of these:

The wedges force people apart

The clamps will squeeze.

 

One forces apart

While one pulls together,

Look across any congregation-

Which one is the better?

 

 

 

One works outside in

The other inside out,

While one acts like a strong adhesive

The other creates doubt.

 

 

Doubt is like a wedge

That comes in between

And the fellowship then splits apart

At the very seam.

 

Gossip and rumour

Are two common wedges

That often contaminates the unity

To which one pledges.

 

Scandal is another,

Not much difference here

And the upsurge of this behaviour

Creates much fear.

 

The fear of trusting

And the fear of confiding

And thus, less comfortable brethren

Resort to hiding.

 

Lacking in confidence

And feeling out of place

And for the most times unable,

To look one in the face.

 

Fear of being read

As though an open book

Ever since a wedge, rather a clamp,

Was allowed to look.

 

Far better to be a clamp

Than to be a wedge,

Preferring not to be quicksand

But to be a ledge

 

And not a narrow ledge

Encouraging one to fall,

But a broad and an inviting ledge

Available to all.

 

Disunity is that wedge

Forcing members apart

Where unity is a mere buzz word

And not of the heart. 

 

Be a clamp, I suggest,

That dares to pull together

So there can be wonderful fellowship

With one another.

 

Unending fellowship

Whene’er we have to part,

Just like a good working clamp

Joining us in heart.

 

 

 

The blest Holy Spirit

Will perform this function

And as he indwells the born-again,

He’ll also give unction.

 

Stewart Russell © September 22, 2026

 

The Author of Freedom

 

 

What is the author of freedom?

Who wrote its book?

It was written by a unique author;

Let’s take a look.

 

Now, freedom is not earned

Freedom is a gift

Yet many have futilely fought for it

If you get my drift.

 

Yes, though fought for,

It has remained at large

And the pseudo freedom that ensued

Was a bully in charge.

 

A freedom with limitations

Imposed by the strong

Lording it over the less fortunate,

Forced to go along.

 

A freedom with few rights

Like the “wild Indians”

That were free to live out their life

On stipulated reservations.

 

This is not the freedom

To which I am referring

But a freedom that actually releases

The one who is hurting.

 

Its author is not obvious

To the unforgiving

But a step in the right direction

Improves one’s living.

 

 

 

It is forgiveness:

The author of freedom,

The author of freedom is forgiveness!

See the problem?

 

Forgiveness releases me

To get on with my life,

Setting me free from the bitter humbug

And its attendant strife.

 

‘Tis the problem

That we see in the world:

Engulfing individuals and communities

Its tentacles unfurl.

 

‘Tis no ethnicity

Its tentacles reach not

And from generation to generation

They teach the lot.

 

Fathers ate sour grapes,

Set children’s teeth on edge

And unforgiveness separates us all

Like an evil wedge.

 

The quest for freedom

Is a futile affair

But when forgiveness shows up

Bondage must disappear.

 

The wars that we fight

Did not start yesterday

But they all have their genesis

In an original fray.

 

And this festered

And grew alarmingly,

Its wedge going deeper and deeper

Diminishing unity.

 

Unforgiveness set in

And forgiveness receded

Thus, real freedom was thwarted,

Its cry not heeded.

 

Both parties in a bind

Not to mention also blind

And freedom sought remains at large

In unforgiveness’ grind.

 

 

 

I dare say it matters not

Who was wronged,

Forgiveness is that critical first step

In the liberty song.

 

To forgive and forget

Though the latter takes time

But let forgiveness be uppermost

In the mind.

 

“And forgive those,”

The model prayer instructs

Thus, hastening the freedom we need

And for which we look.

 

The only freedom there is

Is freedom in God

And He has designed the path thus:

Forgiveness is His call.

 

Stewart Russell © October 10, 2025